Hood catch



R. G.4 MOORE Sept. 25, 1934.

HOOD CATCH Filed March 2 0, 1953 .--pn--l .1,...

' maentqr' RnYMnNn E MEURE.

Gttorneg Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE n i .n n n`1,a'z4,622

, -noon CATCH Raymond G. Moore, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The'Bassick Company, Bridgeport, Conn., a`

corporation of vConnecticut Application March 2o, 193s, serial No.661,652 7 oiaims. (o1. 292-228) The present invention relatesto'hoodcatches for securing the hoods of automobiles, and has for anfobject to provide a hood catch of simple construction and attractiveappearance, which maybe operated Withfacility, and will `effectu'allyhold thel hood downwardly and inwardly against `looseness and rattling.Another object is to p rovide a hood catch in which the handle andhooking means will Abe exteriorly disposed while the tensioningmechanism is interiorly disposed, thus providing a catch which may beeasily and positively operated, and which at the same time will presenta neat and inconspicuous appearance free from unsightly mechanism, andwhich'lends itself to streamline design harmonizing with other parts ofthe automobile structure; y e, j

A further` object is ,to provide acatch which may be horizontallydisposed, out of relation with ythe sill, so that it may be convenientlyreached and will in no way interfere with other parts of the automobile.

A still Vfurther object is to provide a hood catch which will utilizethe, springiness of the metal of the hood side to exert inward holdingpressure.V

With theabove and other objects in view embodiments of the invention areshown in the accompanying drawing, and these embodiments will behereinafter morefully described with referenoe theretd and the inventionbe `finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing: i y

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of one corner 'of an automobile hood and theVadjacent cowl ,andv sill structure, and showing the hoodcatch,.accordi'ng "to `the, illustrated `exemplary` embodiment of theinvention, attachedlthereto Fig. `2 isa vertical sectional view,Y takenalong `menne 2-"-`2 ofrig. 1; and showing the catch in end elevation. Ye e l Figa 3 is,` a vhorizontal sectional view, taken along the line`3-,3` of Fig. Land showing the catch in .top'plan d y. i f ;Fig. 4 is ahorizontalsectional view, taken along theline 4,-401 Fig. 1.

` Fig. 5fis a rear elevation of the catch, and show- `the inoperativeIposition in dot-andhdash lines;-3 i f Fig. 6is adiagrammatichorizontal'sectional `View of the hood and the adjacent structure of theradiator `and cowl and showing in exaggeration the `iiexing of the hoodin the*` operative position ofthebatch. d 'y I i f Fig. 'lisafragmentary rear'eleyationshowinga 1modiiiediorm of spring means.

Fig. 8 is afragmentary vertical sectional view showing a modified formof keeper.

Similaireference characters indicate corresponding parts-throughout theseveral figures of the drawing. e

Referring to the drawing the hood 10 is adapted to closegin the usualmanner against the lacing 11-11, provided along the inset marginalA edgeportions l212 of the radiator frame and cowl structures 13-13, and ateach end of the hood, 65 and adapted to cooperate with keepers providedon the radiator frame and cowl structures,hood catches according to theillustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention are mounted.V e

The hood catch comprises a rectangular mounting plate 14 adapted to beriveted, spot- Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the inner side ofthe hood, preferably adjacent one of the lower corners, although 'ifdesired it may be at a substantially higher point than that illustrated.`AV bearing opening 15 is provided in the plate and has an outwardlyturned v bearing flange which engages within an opening 16 in the hood,the edge of the ange projecting slightly beyond the outer surface of thehood. pon the plate 14 so a cup shaped bearing extension member 17 issecured as by staking lugs 18, engaged and expanded in slots 19 in theplate, and a central opening 20 having an inwardly turned bearing angeis provided therein in axial alignment with the bearing opening l5. y

A shaft 21 is secured to the handle 22, as by having a head 23 formed atone end cast into the handle, and is rotatably mounted in the bearings15 and20.` Atits inner end the shaftproj'eots 90 beyond thebearing 20andis providedV with `flat surfaces 24-24 at each sidefor thenon-rotatable mounting thereon of a lever bar 25, having a`correspondingly shaped opening 26 therein, the

lever bar being secured against the end shoulders of the flat surfacesby a nut 27 screwed upon ,the

' "threaded end of theA shaft.

closed.

The ends of the bar are bent downwardly'into contact with the'plate 14providing offset end extensions 28 and 29.` The` extension 28 has aflange `30 bent upwardly at one edge, 'and which `is adapted to engagethe end of a coiled spring 31 secured to the plate 14 rby a clip 32. Theend 29 4is adapted in the inoperative position of the catch tofslide`up`on`an arcuate rib 33 embossed from no exerted solidly upon the hoodto press it to its` l closed position.

The handle projects horizontally beyond the end of the hood and isprovided with an apertured finger grip portion 36 extending outwardlyfrom the hood surface. Upon the inner` side there is formed a keeperengaging hook 37.

The keeper comprises a base plate 38 and a yoke shaped horizontallyarranged keeper bracket 39, the plate being preferably secured at the`-inner side of the cowl or radiatior frame 13, and

the keeper bracket projecting through an aperture 40 in the cowl orframe..

In operation, the hood is drawn downwardly by downward pressure on thehandles 22--22 at each end of the hood. The abutment of the lever barend 29 with the stop lug 35 causes the downward pressure of the handlesto be firmly'transmitted to the hood, so that it can be effectuallypulled down to its full limit with facility. As shown in dot-and-dashlines in Fig. 1, the handle is swung below the horizontal operativeposition j l gagmg a keeper disposed beyond the end of the the hoodbeing swung outwardly as it is pressed downto clear the keeper. Whenfully pulled down itis pressed inwardly against the lacings and uponrelease of the handle the spring 31 presses it upwardly, engaging thehook 37 with the keeper 39, thus retaining the hood closed and exertinga downward pressure thereon.

The fit of the shaft 21 in the bearings 15 and '20 is. relatively snugand the outward spacing of the hook from the plane of the hood is sodesigned that the handle must be forcibly pressed inwardly to engage thehook. The endsof the hood being supported against the lacings 11, theinward pressure of the handle causes the hood to be slightly sprung orwarped, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6, and being held in thisposition by engagement of the hook Vin the keeper the inherentspringiness of the sheet metal of the hood exerts an inward pressureupon the hood thus pressing the hood ends inwardly firmly against thelacings.

To disengage the catch the handle is pressed downwardly, the hood swungoutwardly, and the handle then swung to its raised position, indicatedin dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 5, where it is frictionally retainedthrough engagement of the end 29 with the embossed surface 33. The stoplug 34 limits the swinging of the handle to the vertical position asshown.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified form of the invention in which Vthespring 31FIL is secured by a clip 32a upon the offset end 28a ofthelever bar 25a, and is adapted to have its end engaged with a lug 30astruck up from the base plate 14a.

The operation is substantially the same as the first. embodiment thespring being tensioned in the operative position of the catch.

Vlikewise angularly disposed, so thatas theV handle is pressed upwardlythe keeper cams it inwardly, with the result that the hood is pressedboth downwardly and inwardly.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodimentsof my invention, but it will be obvious that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:-

1. Automobile hood fastening means for engaging a keeper disposed upon afixed part in relation to the end of the hood, comprising a mountingfixture adapted to be secured to the hood, catch means carried by saidmounting fixture comprising a finger gripping portion, a keeperengaging-portion at one end, and a mounting shaft at the other endhaving bearing in said mounting fixture, a lever bar carried by saidshaft, and spring means and abutment means cooperating between said barand said mounting fixture adapted upon swinging movement of said catchmeans to be tensioned and to exert pressure thereon in keeper engagingdirection, the effective spring movement of said catch means being froma point below its point of engagement with the keeper to a point abovesaid .point of engagement, whereby a continuous downward pressure isexerted on the hood in the engaged relation of the catch means with thekeeper.

2. Automobile hood fastening means for enend, and a mounting shaft atthe other end having bearing in said mounting fixture, a lever barcarried by said shaft, spring means carried by said mounting fixture,and abutment means carried by said bar adapted upon swinging movement ofsaid catch means to tension said spring means to exert pressure on saidcatch means in keeper engaging direction, the effective spring movementof said catch means being from a point kbelow its point of engagementwith the keeper to a point above said point of engagement, whereby acontinuous downward pressure is exerted on the hood in the engagedrelation of the catch means with the keeper. l

3. Automobile hood fastening means for engaging a keeper disposed upon afixed part in relation to the end of the hood, comprising a mountingfixture adapted to be secured to the hood, catch means carried by saidmounting fixture comprising a finger gripping portion, a keeper engagingportion at one end, and a mounting shaft at the other end having bearingin said mounting fixture, a lever bar carried by said shaft, springmeans carried by said bar, and abutment means carried by said mountingfixture adaptedupon swinging movement of said catch means to exertrpressure on said catch means in keeper engaging direction, theeffective spring movement of said catch means being from a point belowits point of engagement with the keeper to a point above 'said .point ofengagement, whereby a continuous downward pressure is exerted on thevhood in gaging a keeper disposed upon a fixed part in relation to theend of the hood, comprising a mounting xture adapted to be secured tothe hood, catch means carried by said mounting fixture comprising aiinger gripping portion, a keeper engaging portion at one end, and amounting shaft at the other end having bearing in said mounting fixture,a lever bar carried by said shaft, spring means and abutment meanscooperating between said bar and` said mountn ing xture adapted uponswinging movement of said catch means to be tensioned and to exertpressure thereon in keeper engaging direction, the effective springmovement of said catch means being from a point below its point ofengagement with the keeper to a point above said point of engagement,whereby a continuous downward pressure is exerted on the hood in theengaged relation of the catch means with the keeper and meanscooperating between said bar and mounting fixture adapted tofrictionaliy retain said catch means in inoperative position.

5. Automobile hood fastening means for en gaging a keeper disposed upona fixed part in relation to the end of the hood, comprising catch meansadapted to be mounted upon the hood comprising an exterior fingergripping portion and a keeper engaging portion carried by said fingergripping portion, said catch means adapted to be depressed in closingthe hood and to spring upwardly to engage said keeper, the eiectivespring movement of said catch means being from a point below its pointof engagement with the keeper to a point above said point of engagement,whereby a continuous downward pressure is exerted on the hood in theengaged relation of the catch means with the keeper and means adapted tofrictionally retain said catch means in inoperative position.

6. Automobile hood fastening means for engaging a keeper disposed upon afixed part in relation to the end of the hood, comprising a mountingfixture adapted to be secured to the hood, catch means carried by saidmounting fixture comprising a finger gripping portion, a keepervengaging portion at one end, and a mounting shaft at the other endhaving bearing in said mounting fixture, and spring means and abutmentmeans cooperating between said shaft and said mounting fixture adaptedupon swinging movement of said catch means in one direction to contactand tension said spring to exert pressure on said catch means in keeperengaging direction, and upon swinging movement in the other direction tobe separated from each other whereby said spring is not under tension inthe inoperative position of said catch means.

7. Automobile hood fastening means for engaging a keeper disposed upon afixed part in re- Y lation to the end of the hood, comprising a mountingfixture adapted to be secured to the hood, catch means carried by saidmounting fixture comprising a finger gripping portion, a keeper engagingportion at one end, and a mounting shaft at the other end having bearingin said mounting fixture, and spring means and abutment meanscooperating between said shaft and said mounting xture adapted uponswinging movement of said catch means in one direction to Contact andtension said spring to exert pressure on said catch means in keeperengaging direction, and upon swinging movement in the other direction tobe separated from each other whereby said spring is not under tension inthe inoperative position of said catch means and means adapted toreleasably retain said catch means in inoperative position.

RAYMOND G. MOORE.

